New McLaren boss Brown says Dennis recruited him

"I text him all the time. Ron at the end of the day is the one who recruited me," the Californian told reporters at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his first race in McLaren uniform.

"The last couple of years he's left the door open...he turned up the volume in the pursuit of me and I wouldn't be talking to you right now if it wasn't for Ron Dennis."

Dennis, the 69-year-old chairman and chief executive who built McLaren into a world-beating team and sportscar maker, was forced out by other shareholders last week and is now on 'gardening leave' until his contract expires in mid-January.

After that, he will remain a 25 percent shareholder and board member but others will run the team.

Brown, a former racer and marketing expert who introduced top brands to Formula One while head of CSM Sport&Entertainment, said McLaren felt like home and it was the right time to join.

He said he would be focused more on "external commercial business" while chief operating officer Jonathan Neale looked after the technical side.